Trade: growth between France, the Emirates and Qatar

Trade between France and the United Arab Emirates, as well as with Qatar, has increased, even exceeding pre-Covid-19 levels, thanks to strategic partnerships in the energy sector, particularly in the fields of hydrogen, renewable energies and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Cooperation in the energy transition, including electric cars, green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel, is at the heart of this growth in trade.

Partagez:

France’s trade with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar has increased compared to the period prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the French Foreign Trade Minister told AFP on Thursday, describing this “growth” as “good news”.

France, Emirates and Qatar: energy cooperation and trade growth

“We’re back to the level of exchange we had before Covid, and even better,” said Olivier Becht in Dubai, during a visit to the Emirates after talks in Qatar.

He pointed out that trade had exceeded 7 billion euros a year for the Emirates, compared with 6 billion before the pandemic. And they reached over 4.6 billion for Qatar, almost double the pre-Covid level.

Last year, during a visit to Paris by Emirati President Mohammed ben Zayed Al-Nahyane, the Emirates and France signed a strategic cooperation agreement in the energy sector, notably in the fields of hydrogen, renewable energies and nuclear power.

Following a meeting with Mr. Becht, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani al-Zeyoudi said on Wednesday that “commercial ties between the United Arab Emirates and France are developing rapidly”, claiming that bilateral non-oil trade had increased by more than 20% in 2022 compared to 2021.

Franco-Qatari trade relations have also been boosted by an energy partnership. Particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which triggered an energy supply crisis.

Trade figures with Qatar “have almost doubled”, remarked the French Minister, explaining that this was mainly due to imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), “which we need so much” in the context of the war in Ukraine. France will “continue to use gas over the next few years”, as the energy transition takes place over a “long time”, he stressed.

Among the main areas of cooperation with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates is energy transition, Becht added.

With a particular focus on electric cars, green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel.

The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz places Gulf producers under intense pressure, highlighting their diplomatic and logistical limitations as a blockage threatens 20 million daily barrels of hydrocarbons destined for global markets.
Budapest and Bratislava jointly reject the European Commission's proposal to ban Russian energy supplies, highlighting significant economic risks and a direct threat to their energy security, days ahead of a key meeting.
Libya officially contests Greece's allocation of offshore oil permits, exacerbating regional tensions over disputed maritime areas south of Crete, rich in hydrocarbons and contested by several Mediterranean states.
Hungary, supported by Slovakia, strongly expresses opposition to the European Commission's plan to phase out imports of Russian energy resources, citing major economic and energy impacts for Central Europe.
Israeli military strikes on Iran's Natanz nuclear site destroyed critical electrical infrastructure but did not reach strategic underground facilities, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The French president travels to Nuuk on 15 June to support Greenlandic sovereignty, review energy projects and respond to recent US pressure, according to the Élysée.
Kazakhstan has selected Rosatom and China National Nuclear Corporation to build two nuclear power plants totaling 2.4 GW, a decision following a favorable referendum and coinciding with Xi Jinping’s upcoming strategic visit.
Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear sites disrupt US-Iranian talks on the nuclear deal. Tehran now considers canceling the upcoming negotiation round in Oman, heightening regional economic concerns.
Facing alarming breaches of uranium enrichment thresholds by Iran and explicit existential threats, Israel launches targeted military strikes against Iranian nuclear infrastructure, escalating regional tensions dramatically.
The Kremlin has confirmed that Vladimir Putin aims to help resolve the nuclear dispute between the United States and Iran, leveraging strengthened strategic ties with Tehran.
President Lee Jae-myung adopts an energy diplomacy rooted in national interest, amid a complex international landscape of rivalries that could create challenging situations for the country and its energy businesses.
Paris and Warsaw held a bilateral workshop in Warsaw to strengthen coordination on electricity infrastructure investments and supply security under the Nancy Treaty.
Donald Trump firmly rejects any uranium enrichment by Iran, while Russia affirms Tehran’s right to civil nuclear power, intensifying tensions in negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program.
Syria has signed a $7bn agreement with a consortium of companies from Qatar, Turkey and the United States to rebuild its national power sector.
Friedrich Merz confirmed that Germany would block any attempt to relaunch the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite internal calls suggesting a potential reopening of dialogue with Moscow.
A memorandum of understanding formalises energy cooperation between the European Union and the Latin American Energy Organization, including permanent EU participation in the organisation’s governance bodies.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary would oppose the EU's plan to ban Russian energy deliveries by 2027, both legally and politically.
Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of Saxony, proposed restarting dialogue with Russia on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite clear opposition from the German government to any reactivation of the project.
Donald Trump is calling on the United Kingdom to abandon wind energy in favor of revitalizing offshore oil extraction, sparking debate over the economic and political implications of such an energy strategy after their recent trade agreement.
China and Egypt concluded over 30 energy-focused agreements, including electric vehicles, smart grids and storage technologies.